Encode Profiles

Encode profiles are available for all AIO models, as well as certain ProVue models, that have an active IP Encoding license. Encode profiles allow you to select from stock presets, and to create your own presets for encoding from Input sources and for IP Output encoding with the IP Output option.

Recording presets include:

MPEG2 – HD:

• Resolution, Frame Rate, and Scan Mode follows the source. Higher than 1080/30fps source will be Frame Rate converted.
• Video: MPEG-2, 18.1 Mbps Constant Bit Rate
• Mux: 19Mbps Constant Mux Rate, CableLabs profile
• Audio: MPEG-1 Layer II, 224Kbps

MPEG2 – SD:

• Resolution, Frame Rate, and Scan Mode follows the source. Higher than 1080/30fps will be source Frame Rate converted.
• Video: MPEG-2, 3.18 Mbps Constant Bit Rate
• Mux: 3.75 Mbps Mux Rate, CableLabs profile
• Audio: MPEG-1 Layer II, 224Kbps

H264 – HD/SD:

• Resolution, Frame Rate, and Scan Mode follows the source.
• Video: H.264, Variable Bit Rate
• Mux: Variable Mux Rate, CableLabs profile
• Audio: AAC, 192Kbps

Additional presets for IP Output include CableLabs H.264 SD and HD samples. Click on the name of any preset to see the full encoding profile details including help for the meaning of each field.

Setting Default Record Profile

The default record profile selections will display as a green check in the corresponding SD and HD Default columns. Recording allows for a separate default profile for SD sources and HD sources. To set your default recording profiles, click the gray check action in the corresponding SD and HD Default columns. Note that recording profile will follow the native source resolution. If an SD source is detected at the start of the record, encoding will use the SD Default. Likewise, if an HD source is detected at the start of the record, encoding will use the HD Default.

Delete, Copy, Edit, and Add Encode Profiles

To delete an existing profile, click the delete action. There are non-deletable, non-editable factory presets that can be used directly, or can be copied for convenience to use as a baseline for customized profiles. To copy an existing profile, click the copy action. To edit an existing profile, click the edit action. To create a new profile, click the add action. In each of these cases, you will be presented with the Encode Profile form.

Choose the desired Encode Profile settings. The Encode Profile fields are as follows, with detailed help menu items available for each field.

• Name: Enter a name for the encode profile.
• Description: Enter a description for the encode profile.
• Codec: Choose the video codec specifies what encoding format will be used for video. The available options are H.264/AVC and MPEG-2.
• Bitrate Mode: Choose the Video Bitrate Mode, either Constant or Variable. Variable Bitrate is only supported for H.264/AVC. Variable Bitrate may provide more efficient encoding, including smaller files for recording or lower bandwidth for streaming. Constant may be required for certain applications, and is more typically used when the Mux Rate is also Constant.
• Bitrate: For Constant Bitrate, enter the target video bitrate in Mbps. The video bit rate correlates to the video quality of the encoded output. Higher bitrates provide better quality at the expense of increased data rates.
• Average Bitrate: For Variable Bitrate, enter the target average video bitrate. If left blank, a specific average will not be targeted.
• Max Bitrate: For Variable Bitrate, enter the maximum video bitrate. If left blank, the actual maximum will vary and depend on the source material and other encoder settings.
• Follow Source: When enabled, the encoding will follow the source Resolution, Frame Rate, and Scan Mode. For MPEG-2 encoding, input sources above 1080/30fps will be Frame Rate converted. Profiles with Follow Source enabled can only be used for Recording, and are not available for IP Output.
• Resolution: Choose the output video width and height (in pixels) that also defines the aspect ratio.
• Frame Rate: Choose an output frame rate in frames per second (fps).
• Scan Mode: Choose the scan mode of the output that determines how video frames are stored. For MPEG-2 codec, either Interlaced (Bottom Field First or Top Field First) or Progressive. For H.264/AVC codec, either Macroblock-adaptive Frame/Field (MBAFF) or Progressive. Progressive mode stores frames instead of fields. Bottom Field First (BFF) mode stores frames as separate fields, with the bottom field first. Top Field First (TFF) mode stores frames as separate fields, with the upper field first. MBAFF allows for a combination of interlaced and progressive.
• Profile: Choose the profile code that defines the specific video codec features and capabilities to be used.
• Level: Choose the level code that specifies a set of constraints for a given profile, such as the maximum picture resolution, frame rate, and bit rate.
• GOP Size: Choose the number of frames to make up a Group of Pictures, that allows for transition points for starting and stopping within the file for virtual trimming. For broadcast applications, half of a second worth of frames based on the frame rate is recommended, such as 15 frames for 29.97 or 30fps.
• Audio Codec: Choose the audio codec that specifies what encoding format will be used for audio. The available options are AAC and MPEG-1 Layer II.
• Audio Bitrate: Enter the audio bit rate that correlates to the audio quality of the transcoded file. Higher bitrates provide better quality at the expense of increased file sizes.
• Audio Channels: Choose either stereo (2 channel) or mono (1 channel) audio.
• Audio Sampling Rate: Choose the audio sampling rate in Kilohertz (KHz).
• Mux Profile: Choose the Transport Stream Multiplexer compatibility mode. Available options are CableLabs and ATSC.
• Mux Rate Mode: Choose the Multiplex Rate Mode, either Constant or Variable. Variable Mux Rate is only supported for H.264/AVC. Variable Mux Rate may provide more efficient encoding when combined with Variable Bitrate, including smaller files for recording or lower bandwidth for streaming. Constant Mux Rate may be required for certain applications.
• Mux Rate: Enter the Constant Multiplex (MUX) rate for the encoded stream that defines the total data rate including video, audio, and transport packets. A good rule of thumb is to set the MUX rate less than 10% above the sum of the video and audio bit rates, but high enough to meet minimum requirements. The application will display a warning if the MUX rate is set too low.
• PMT PID: For ATSC Muxing, choose the Transport Stream Packet Identifier (PID) for the Program Map Table (PMT). CableLabs Muxing will use the CableLabs default.
• PCR/Video PID: For ATSC Muxing, choose the Transport Stream Packet Identifier (PID) for the Program Clock Reference (PCR) and Video. CableLabs Muxing will use the CableLabs default.
• Audio PID: For ATSC Muxing, Choose the Transport Stream Packet Identifier (PID) for the Audio. CableLabs Muxing will use the CableLabs default.

Click Save to save your changes.

Selecting an Encode Profile for IP Output

With the IP Output option, when configuring the Output, select the Encoding Profile from the available profiles.